Indulge in our natural soap because you are worth it

Welcome to our improved Unaka Soap Lady website

As you can see from our home page we’re now Unaka Soap Lady & Friends. Although our primary product is great soap, you also will find only handmade products from local western NC artisans. Whether you are in the market for our soap, that smells amazing and is good for your skin, or other products for your home or gifts, this is the place to shop to be assured of creative, one-of-a-kind items. What’s different about our website? You’ll also have the opportunity to meet the artist or crafter. Each of these individuals I know personally and have been impressed with their creations and am fortunate to call them my friend. Most I have met while selling my soap at farmers’ markets or craft shows/festivals. Your purchase of their creations will serve to help keep our regional craft industry growing. As more artists are added, you will be advised by email of the new products. Think of our website as going to the craft festival right from your home. This is my way of helping my friends and sharing with you beautiful handmade items. Please drop me an email and let me know what you think or to tell me how you like the product. As my soap label states: “Created with loving hands and heartfelt care” you can’t get any better than that.

How it’s Made

So, now you may ask, how is our soap made? I’m so glad you asked!

Of course I can’t give away my trade secrets, but it’s math and chemistry. Usually, I begin with four carrier oils, sodium hydroxide (lye) and water. Calculations of percentages for the appropriate amounts are done for each of the ingredients along with the amounts of additives.

Upon completion of the math calculations of weights and measurements for all ingredients, I transfer the information to a recipe sheet which I keep for every batch created. Then the oils and butters are heated to appropriate temperatures using a double-boiler system. In separate bowls I have the lye and liquid, then the lye is slowly combined with the liquid, stirring constantly and using accepted safety precautions, and brought to a specific temperature. Next, the lye mixture is slowly added to the warm oils and stirred using a stick blender until the saponification emulsion begins to form, then stir in the scent or texture and quickly pour into my lined wooden mold. The soap is covered and continues with the saponification process for at least 24 hours, then removed from the mold, cut into bars and allowed to dry for three to four weeks. At about 10 days I print off the labels which I create using MS Word and wrap the soap. Each soap label has a specific clip art picture so if you can’t remember the name you can recall the picture. Now it’s ready for sale and shipping.